Practical Nursing, Vocational Nursing and Nursing Assistants at Henrico County-Saint Marys Hospital School of Practical Nursing

Looking at similar practical nursing programs in Virginia, this diploma carries an estimated $11,604 in debt—meaningfully below both the state median of $16,182 and national median of $14,803. That lower debt load matters when first-year earnings of roughly $44,500 align with typical outcomes statewide, producing a debt-to-earnings ratio of just 0.26.

The challenge is clearer when you see what graduates from reported programs are earning. Top Virginia LPN programs place graduates at $51,000 to $61,000, suggesting this school's outcomes may fall in the middle tier or lower. Since we're working with estimated figures based on peer programs rather than actual graduate data from Saint Marys, you can't know whether this particular program is closer to those higher-earning outcomes or represents more typical performance.

For parents, the conservative debt makes this a lower-risk nursing pathway than many alternatives. Even at the estimated earnings level, your child would face manageable loan payments. But the wide earnings variation among Virginia LPN programs—from mid-$40s to low $60s—means the specific quality and connections of this hospital-based program matter significantly. Before committing, ask the school directly about their graduates' actual employment rates and starting wages at local healthcare facilities.